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JKL relied on a 13-0 run at the start of the third quarter to slice the Titans' lead to just five points and further cut it to one before a late charge got KIU over the line.
KIU Titans head coach Julius Lutwama will take the win over JKL Dolphins but believes his side can play much better than they did Wednesday night.
The Titans made it 10 wins in 12 games with a 76-64 victory but were made to work harder than anticipated despite a solid start to the game.
"I want to appreciate my team for winning the game. Every time you come out for a battle a get a result, it is good, but we didn't play well," Lutwama said after the game.
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00:04 - 22.06.2023
BASKETBALL Ahmed Kassa's game-high 20 points not enough as KIU Titans outlast JKL
Kassa finished the game with a game-high 20 points despite his team fading down the stretch to lose 76-64.
"I think that is the lapse of moving into the second round and the break that we had, there was a problem with match fitness, and players are not yet fit to play in the jersey, but this has given us work to do," he added.
"We have a lot to correct, and we will go back to the drawing board and work harder."
KIU started the game on the front foot and led by as many as 18 points going into the halftime break but were pegged back in the third frame.
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12:20 - 21.06.2023
BASKETBALL Standout Performances in Week 12 Propel Men's Basketball Players to the Top
Week 12 of the National Basketball season brought forth thrilling encounters as teams battled it out on the court to assert dominance.
JKL relied on a 13-0 run at the start of the third quarter to slice the Titans' lead to just five points and further cut it to one before a late charge got KIU over the line.
"We got the win, that's right, but we didn't play very well; even the players are not convinced with how we played."
Ahmed Kassa, deemed surplus to requirement at KIU, led JKL's push with a game-high 20 points, shooting six-for-13 from the field.
But Saidi Amisi and Isaiah Ater Mabeny gave the Titans the offence down the stretch to see out the contest.
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The two scored 14 points apiece, while Innocent Ochera added 13.
"Basketball is a game of runs. In the first half, we had the runs. We scored and were up 18 points. In the third quarter, it was JKL with the runs, and in the fourth, we got back the runs," Lutwama revealed.
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"How best you utilize your runs is very important. We were not playing good defence."
The Titans also had guard Denis Balungu make his return to NBL action, but the Congolese limped off injured midway through the game.
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